Lightweight wheel clamp for vehicle wheel alignment system

ABSTRACT

A lightweight wheel clamp assembly is provided for attaching to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle. The assembly comprises a first bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel; a second bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel; a handle rotatably mounted to the second bracket; and a rod having a threaded portion and an attachment portion near a first end of the rod. The first bracket is attachable to the attachment portion of the rod, and the handle is threaded to engage the threaded portion of the rod, such that when a user grasps and rotates the handle, a distance between the first and second brackets can be adjusted to rigidly attach the wheel clamp assembly to the vehicle wheel.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present invention claims priority of provisional patent application No. 61/282,115 filed Dec. 18, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present subject matter relates to wheel alignment equipment for vehicles. The present subject matter has particular applicability to wheel clamps for attaching alignment elements to vehicle wheels.

BACKGROUND ART

Certain current conventional vehicle wheel alignment systems use alignment elements referred to as “alignment heads” that are attached to the wheels of a vehicle to measure various angles of the wheels and suspension. These angles are communicated to a host system, where they are used in the calculation of vehicle alignment angles. In the standard conventional aligner configuration, four alignment heads are attached to respective wheels of a vehicle. Each alignment head comprises two horizontal or toe measurement sensors and two vertical or camber/pitch sensors. Each alignment head also contains electronics to support overall sensor data acquisition as well as communications with the aligner console, local user input, and local display for status feedback, diagnostics and calibration support. Other conventional alignment systems, referred to as “visual aligners”, use optical targets attached to each vehicle wheel instead of sensors. The targets are imaged by cameras, and these visual images are used to calculate the vehicle wheel alignment angles.

Such alignment equipment usually includes a wheel clamp that attaches to a vehicle's wheel and carries the alignment element (i.e., the sensor equipment that measures the alignment angles of the vehicle, or the optical target). Referring now to FIG. 1, a conventional wheel clamp 1100 includes upper and lower sliding brackets 1105, 1110, respectively, for engaging the rim of the vehicle wheel, and a center bracket 1115 for holding an alignment element. Brackets 1105, 1110, 1115 are all slidably mounted on a pair of guide bars 1120, 1125. A lead screw 1130 threadingly engages upper and lower brackets 1105, 1110 for clamping the clamp 1100 to the vehicle wheel. The vehicle being aligned is usually positioned on a vehicle alignment lift at heights from three to four feet for performing alignments. The vehicle is usually raised even higher, up to six feet, for servicing the vehicle from underneath.

There exists a need to lower the weight of alignment equipment, such as wheel clamp 100, that an alignment technician attaches to a vehicle's wheel. Lower weight reduces the amount of kinetic energy (i.e., shock loading) that is imparted to this equipment in case it falls off a wheel to which it is attached, thereby reducing the chance of damaging the equipment. Lower weight has the added benefit of reducing strain and fatigue on the technician lifting and holding this equipment up until it can be attached to a vehicle's wheel. A typical four-wheel alignment requires the technician perform such a lifting/holding operation for each of the four wheels of the vehicle, and this operation may be performed several times a day in a typical alignment shop.

There also exists a need to quickly move the attachment brackets from a small diameter rim/wheel to a larger diameter rim/wheel, or vice versa. Conventional methods require the alignment technician to turn a knob multiple times to move the attachment brackets in or out, which can take a significant amount of time, and is tiring for the technician.

SUMMARY

The teachings herein improve over conventional alignment equipment by reducing the weight of the equipment and allowing the equipment to be adjusted quickly and easily, while simplifying the equipment, thereby reducing costs.

According to the present disclosure, the foregoing and other advantages are achieved in part by a wheel clamp assembly for attaching to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle. The assembly comprises a first bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel; a second bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel; a handle rotatably mounted to the second bracket; and a rod having a threaded portion, and an attachment portion proximal a first end of the rod. The first bracket is attachable to the attachment portion of the rod, and the handle is threadingly engagable with the threaded portion of the rod, such that when a user grasps and rotates the handle, a distance between the first and second brackets can be adjusted to rigidly attach the wheel clamp assembly to the vehicle wheel.

In accord with another aspect of the disclosure, a wheel clamp assembly is provided for attaching to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle. The assembly comprises a first bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel; a second bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel; a handle mounted to the second bracket; a threaded shaft having a first threaded portion threaded in a first direction, and a second threaded portion threaded in a second direction opposite the first direction; and a handwheel fixedly attached to an end of the shaft. The first bracket is threadingly engaged with the first threaded portion of the shaft, and the handle is threadingly engaged with the second threaded portion of the shaft, such that when a user rotates the handwheel while preventing the handle from rotating, a distance between the first and second brackets can be adjusted to rigidly attach the wheel clamp assembly to the vehicle wheel.

In accord with yet another aspect of the disclosure, a wheel clamp assembly for attaching to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle comprises a first bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel; a second bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel; and a rod. The first bracket is fixedly attachable to the rod, and the second bracket is slidably movable on the rod, and includes a lock for fixedly attaching the second bracket to a selected position on the rod for adjusting a distance between the first and second brackets to rigidly attach the wheel clamp assembly to the vehicle wheel.

Additional advantages and novel features will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following and the accompanying drawings or may be learned from production or operation of the examples. The advantages of the present teachings may be realized and attained by practice or use of the methodologies, instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is made to the attached drawings, wherein elements having the same reference numeral designations represent like elements throughout, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional wheel clamp.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the disclosed lightweight wheel clamp assembly attached to a vehicle wheel.

FIG. 3 is another view of the wheel clamp assembly of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of the handle of the wheel clamp assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the wheel clamp assembly of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 7 a-d show a rod extension arrangement for the wheel clamp assembly of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show alternative embodiment of the second bracket of the wheel clamp assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 shows various details of the wheel clamp assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 shows an alternative embodiment of a wheel clamp assembly according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 shows an alternative embodiment of a wheel clamp assembly according to the present disclosure.

FIGS. 13 a-c show a further alternative embodiment of a wheel clamp assembly according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Several examples of wheel clamp assemblies according to the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a wheel clamp assembly 100 is for attaching to a vehicle wheel W for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle. Wheel clamp assembly 100 has a first bracket 105 for engaging the vehicle wheel W via two grabbers 110, and a second bracket 115 for engaging the vehicle wheel W via another two grabbers 110 (see FIG. 2). A handle 120 is rotatably mounted to the second bracket 115 at a joint J, and the handle 120 is threadingly engagable with a threaded portion 125a of a rod 125. The rod 125 is made from a lightweight material such as aluminum. The first bracket 105 is attachable to an attachment portion 125 b proximal a first end of the rod 125. When a user grasps and rotates the handle 120, a distance between the first and second brackets can be adjusted to rigidly attach the wheel clamp assembly 100 to the vehicle wheel W.

In this embodiment, the rod 125 has at least one outer peripheral facet 125 d, and the second bracket 115 has a corresponding through-hole for slidably engaging the rod's outer peripheral facet(s) 125 d such that when the user grasps and rotates the handle 120 to adjust the distance between the first and second brackets 105, 115, the second bracket 115 does not substantially rotate relative to the rod 125. The facet 125 d is shown in the drawings as a flat portion of the rod 125, but those skilled in the art will understand that the facet can be any shape that accomplishes the anti-rotation function. For example, the facet can be a groove in the periphery of the rod. Of course, the first bracket would then need to include a corresponding protrusion that fits into the groove.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, the handle 120 comprises a handle body 120 a and a pair of jaws 120 b movably mounted to the handle body 120 a and threadingly engagable with opposing sides of the threaded portion 125 a of the rod 125. The jaws 120 b are made of a strong material such as steel. The jaws 120 b are movable by the user from a first position where they are threadingly engaged with the threaded portion 125 a of the rod 125, as shown in FIG. 4, to a second position where they are not threadingly engaged with the rod 125, as shown in FIG. 5. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the jaws 120 b are pivotably mounted to the handle body 120 at respective pivot points P such that they are pivotable from the first position to the second position by the user, and a spring 130 is mounted between the handle body 120 a and each of the jaws 120 b to bias each jaw 120 b to the first position.

When the jaws 120 b are in the first position and the user grasps and rotates the handle body 120 a, the distance between the first and second brackets 105, 115 can be adjusted to rigidly attach the wheel clamp assembly 100 to the vehicle wheel W, and when the jaws 120 b are in the second position, the second bracket 115 and handle 120 are slidably movable relative to the rod 125.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-5, the jaws 120 and the springs 130 are for moving the jaws 120 from the first position to the second position when a predetermined tension is exerted on the threaded portion 125 a of the rod 125 when user grasps and rotates the handle 120. This automatic torque limiting feature prevents over-tightening of the clamp assembly that would damage the threads of the rod 125. This feature is especially advantageous when the rod 125 comprises a lightweight metal such as aluminum, and the jaws 120 are steel. Referring now to FIG. 4, the torque limiting feature is accomplished, for example, by providing the threaded portion 125 a of rode 125 with variable pitch, flat top “acme threads” (i.e., conventional power transmission threads) 125 e. Acme threads allow slippage, and the springs 130 and pivot points P are chosen to allow the jaws 120 to pop free of the threads 125 e at a predetermined thread tension, to prevent over-tightening and damage to the threads 125 e.

The first bracket 105 is adjustably and pivotally mounted to the attachment portion 125 b of the rod 125. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the attachment portion 125 b of the rod 125 has a plurality of transverse holes 125 c spaced from one another, the first bracket 105 has a corresponding through-hole, and the first bracket 105 is attachable to the attachment portion 125 b via a fastener extending through the through-hole and engagable with any one of the transverse holes 125 c. In one embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 a, the fastener is a pin 135 having a ball detent 135 a for engaging the first bracket 105 to retain the pin 135 in the transverse hole 125 c. In a further embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the transverse holes 125 c are threaded, and the fastener is a bolt 140 that is threadingly engaged with one of the transverse threaded holes. The pivot mounting of first bracket 105 enables it to move a small amount relative to rod 125 for easier mounting of clamp assembly 100 to wheel W.

In certain embodiments of the disclosed assembly shown in FIGS. 7 a-d, the first end of the rod 125 has a hollow portion, and a rod extension 145 is provided to increase the length of rod 125, to enable the disclosed clamp assembly to be used on larger-diameter vehicle wheels (see FIG. 7 d). Rod extension 145 has a stepped first end 145 a, which is an attachment portion attachable to the attachment portion 125c of the rod 125, and transverse holes 145 b for securing the rod extension 145 to the rod 125 and for attaching the first bracket 105 to the rod extension 145 (e.g., via pins 135 as shown in FIG. 7 c). The rod extension 145 also has a hollow connection portion 145 c at a second end opposite its first end 145 a for attaching a second rod extension 145 to further extend the length of the rod 125.

As shown in FIGS. 2-7 d and FIG. 10, the first bracket 105 has a measuring device mounting location 150 for adjustably mounting a wheel alignment element 180 to the first bracket 105. In certain embodiments, the second bracket 115 also has a measuring device mounting location 150 for adjustably mounting a wheel alignment element to the second bracket 115.

A useful feature of the disclosed wheel clamp assembly is that the second bracket/handle unit is “reversible;” that is, it can be threaded onto the rod handle-first or bracket-first, as necessary to accommodate different sizes of wheels. As shown in FIG. 7 d, the second bracket 115 comprises a hub 115 a, an arm 115 b extending outward from the hub 115 a, and at least one grabber 110 at a distal end of the arm 115 b for engaging the vehicle wheel. The arm 115 b extends from the hub 115 a such that the grabber(s) 110 are offset from the hub 115 a along an axial direction of the rod 125. The second bracket 115 and the handle 120 are threadable onto the rod 125 so that the handle 120 is between the first and second brackets 105, 115 (as shown in FIG. 7 d); and the second bracket 115 and the handle 120 are also threadable onto the rod 125 so that the second bracket 115 is between the first bracket 105 and the handle 120.

In a further embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the first bracket 105 comprises two grabbers 110 for engaging the vehicle wheel, and a second bracket 115 a comprises exactly one grabber 110 for engaging a vehicle wheel. The three grabbers 110 of the first and second brackets cooperate to rigidly attach the wheel clamp assembly to the vehicle wheel when the distance between the first and second brackets is adjusted via the handle 120, as described above.

In a still further embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the second bracket 115 b comprises a central hub 155 and a pair of arms 160, 165 pivotally mounted to the hub 155 via a common pivot point 170, each of the arms having a grabber 110 for engaging a vehicle wheel, and a spring, such as a coil spring 175 attached to both arms 160, 165, for biasing the arms towards each other. When the distance between the first and second brackets 105, 115 b is adjusted so the grabbers 110 of the first and second brackets engage the vehicle wheel, the second bracket arms 160, 165 move away from each other as the distance between the first and second brackets 105, 115 b is thereafter reduced, until the wheel clamp assembly 100 is rigidly attached to the vehicle wheel W.

In an embodiment of the disclosed clamp assembly shown in FIG. 10, a marking 185 is provided on the second bracket 115 for enabling a camera vision system (not shown) to find the location of the second bracket 115. Marking 185 can be a unique symbol to readily identify the particular wheel to which the wheel clamp assembly should be attached, for correct usage.

In a further embodiment of the disclosed wheel clamp assembly shown in FIG. 11, a wheel clamp assembly 200 includes a first bracket 205 for engaging the vehicle wheel; a second bracket 210 for engaging the vehicle wheel; a handle rotatably 215 mounted to the second bracket 210; and a rod 220 having a threaded portion 220 a and an attachment portion 220 b proximal a first end of the rod 220. The first bracket 205 is rotatably mounted to the attachment portion 220 b of the rod 220, and a handwheel 225 is fixedly mounted at a second end of the rod 220. The handle 215 is threadingly engagable with the threaded portion 220 a of the rod 220, such that when a user grasps and rotates the handle 215, a distance between the first and second brackets 205, 215 can be adjusted to rigidly attach the wheel clamp assembly 200 to the vehicle wheel. Likewise, when a user grasps and rotates the handwheel 225, a distance between the first and second brackets 205, 215 can be adjusted to rigidly attach the wheel clamp assembly 200 to the vehicle wheel.

The wheel clamp assembly 200 is identical to the above-described clamp assembly 100 of FIGS. 3-5 in all respects except for the addition of the handwheel 225, and the fact that the first bracket 205 is rotatably mounted to rod attachment portion 220 b. Thus, clamp assembly 200 has jaws 230 in its handle 215 identical to the jaws 120 b of the clamp assembly 100. Consequently, when the jaws 230 are in the first position and the user rotates the handwheel 225 while preventing the handle 215 from rotating, the distance between the first and second brackets 205, 210 can be adjusted.

In a further embodiment of the disclosed wheel clamp assembly shown in FIG. 12, the assembly 300 comprises a first bracket 305 for engaging the vehicle wheel; a second bracket 310 for engaging the vehicle wheel; a handle 315 rotatably mounted to the second bracket 310; a threaded shaft 320 having a first threaded portion 320 a threaded in a first direction, and a second threaded portion 320 b threaded in a second direction opposite the first direction; and a handwheel 325 fixedly attached to an end of the shaft. The first bracket 305 is threadingly engaged with the first threaded portion 320 a of the shaft 320, and the handle 315 is threadingly engaged with the second threaded portion 320 b of the shaft 320, such that when a user rotates the handwheel 325 while preventing the handle 315 from rotating, a distance between the first and second brackets 305, 310 can be quickly adjusted to rigidly attach the wheel clamp assembly 300 to the vehicle wheel.

In a related embodiment, the shaft is threaded in a single direction, and the first bracket and handle are oppositely threaded, to produce the same effect as the embodiment described immediately above. In other words, the threaded portions 320 a, 320 b of shaft 320 are threaded in the same direction, the first bracket 305 is threaded in a first direction, and the handle 315 is threaded in a second direction opposite the first direction. The first bracket 305 and the handle 315 are threadingly engaged with the shaft 320, such that when a user rotates the handwheel 325 while preventing the handle 315 from rotating, a distance between the first and second brackets 305, 310 can be quickly adjusted to rigidly attach the wheel clamp assembly 300 to the vehicle wheel. The embodiments of FIG. 11 are otherwise identical.

Clamp assembly 300 has jaws 330 in its handle 315 identical to the jaws 120 b of the clamp assembly 100, whose details are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and described herein above. Consequently, when the jaws 330 are in the first position and the user rotates the handwheel 325 while preventing the handle 315 from rotating, the distance between the first and second brackets 305, 310 can be adjusted to rigidly attach the wheel clamp assembly 300 to the vehicle wheel, and when the jaws 330 are in the second position, the second bracket 310 and handle 315 are slidably movable relative to the rod 320. Also, the jaws 330 provide the automatic torque limiting feature described herein above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

It should be understood that the clamp assembly 300 can also include various features described herein above with reference to the clamp assembly 100, such as the measuring device mounting locations 150 on the first and/or second brackets 305, 310, and the marking 185 shown in FIG. 10.

In a still further embodiment of the disclosed wheel clamp assembly, shown in FIGS. 13 a-c, a wheel clamp assembly 400 for attaching to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle includes a first bracket 405 for engaging the vehicle wheel; a second bracket 410 for engaging the vehicle wheel; and a rod 415. The first bracket 405 is fixedly attachable to the rod 415, and the second bracket 410 is slidably movable on the rod 415, and includes a lock 420 for fixedly attaching the second bracket 410 to a selected position on the rod 415 for adjusting a distance between the first and second brackets 405, 410 to rigidly attach the wheel clamp assembly 400 to the vehicle wheel. The rod 415 has at least one flat facet; for example, a substantially triangular cross-section as shown in FIG. 13 c, and the second bracket 410 has a corresponding through hole for slidably engaging the rod's outer peripheral facet such that the second bracket 410 does not substantially rotate relative to the rod 415.

Referring now to FIG. 13 b, the lock 420 includes a top locking latch 425 which is pivotally attached to the second bracket 410 and surrounds the rod 415, and a ratcheting mechanism that includes an inner locking plate 430 that surrounds the rod 415 and pivots up and down about second bracket 410, an outer handle 435 rigidly attached to the second bracket 410, and an inner handle 440 that pivots about outer handle 435. A spring 445 biases inner handle 440 to a neutral position.

To adjust the clamp assembly, the user presses down on the top locking latch 425 with their thumb, causing the top locking latch 425 to pivot and unlock the ratcheting mechanism. The user then squeezes the inner handle 440, causing the inner locking plate 430 to pivot upwards. Releasing the inner handle 440 causes the second bracket/lock assembly to “climb down” the rod 415, to enable the clamp assembly 400 to be attached to the vehicle wheel. When the clamp assembly 400 is attached to the wheel, the user releases to top locking latch 425 to lock assembly 400 into position. To reverse, the user presses down on the top locking latch 425 and squeezes the inner handle 440 slightly while pulling upwards. Thus, the clamp assembly 400 works similarly to a conventional wood clamp, allowing the second bracket 410 to be moved quickly into position with grabbers 450 on the wheel rim, so the user can then tighten the clamp assembly in place by squeezing the inner handle 440 repeatedly. Certain embodiments of wheel clamp assembly 400 are constructed of structural foam for very light weight.

It will be understood by those of skill in the art that further embodiments of the clamp assembly 400 include features described herein above with reference, e.g., to FIG. 7 d, such as measuring device mounting locations 150 on the first and/or second brackets 405, 410 for adjustably mounting a wheel alignment element. Moreover, in further embodiments the second bracket 410 is reversible on rod 415, and is similar in appearance to bracket 115 of FIG. 7 d, insofar as it comprises a hub, an arm extending outward from the hub, and a grabber at a distal end of the arm for engaging the vehicle wheel, the arm extending from the hub such that the grabber is offset from the hub along an axial direction of the rod. In this embodiment, the second bracket 410 is engageable with the rod 415 so that the lock 420 is between the first and second brackets 405, 410; and is also engageable with the rod 415 so that the second bracket 410 is between the first bracket 405 and the lock 420.

The present disclosure can be practiced by employing conventional materials, methodology and equipment. Accordingly, the details of such materials, equipment and methodology are not set forth herein in detail. In the previous descriptions, numerous specific details are set forth, such as specific materials, structures, chemicals, processes, etc., in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present teachings. However, it should be recognized that the present teachings can be practiced without resorting to the details specifically set forth. In other instances, well known processing structures have not been described in detail, in order not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present teachings.

While the foregoing has described what are considered to be the best mode and/or other examples, it is understood that various modifications may be made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may be implemented in various forms and examples, and that the teachings may be applied in numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein. It is intended by the following claims to claim any and all applications, modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the present teachings. 

1. A wheel clamp assembly for attaching to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle, the assembly comprising: a first bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel; a second bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel; a handle rotatably mounted to the second bracket; and a rod having a threaded portion, and an attachment portion proximal a first end of the rod; wherein the first bracket is attachable to the attachment portion of the rod; and wherein the handle is threadingly engagable with the threaded portion of the rod, such that when a user grasps and rotates the handle, a distance between the first and second brackets can be adjusted to rigidly attach the wheel clamp assembly to the vehicle wheel. 2-45. (canceled) 